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Three summer cocktails with Angostura Bitters you can make at home

Three summer cocktails with Angostura that you can make at home


Forget about complex bar equipment, hard-to-find liqueurs, and complicated techniques. A top-notch cocktail can be made at home. Below, we bring you three cocktails that you can actually make with what you have in your kitchen, except for Angostura Bitters, which admit it you've been planning to buy for a while. We've also added suggestions for replacing rum, amaretto, soda, and everything else that shouldn't stand between you and summer refreshment.


First, a little about Angostura. It’s one of the most recognizable and enduring bottles in the cocktail world, with its signature oversized label and rich, spicy, dark brown liquid.


Although named after the Venezuelan city of Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar), this mixology staple has actually been produced in Trinidad since the mid-19th century. It was originally developed by German physician Dr. Johann Siegert as a medical tonic to ease the digestive problems of soldiers in the South American tropics. Its complex flavors (a blend of more than 40 herbs and spices) soon found their way into the cocktail world, where it became an indispensable ingredient in drinks like the Old Fashion, the Manhattan, and countless others.


Three summer cocktails with Angostura that you can make at home

  1. The Queen's Revival (home tiki version)

This cocktail is an hommage to the legendary Queen's Park Swizzle, but in a simplified, homemade version. So if you don't have fancy aged rum or demerara syrup, don't worry. All you need is some dark rum (the fuller the flavor), brown sugar (or regular sugar, if you're in a panic), fresh citrus, a little fresh mint , and of course, Angostura bitters.


Ingredients:

  • 60 ml dark rum (substitute: Bacardi Carta Negra, Captain Morgan, Havana Club Añejo, or any darker rum from the store)

  • 25 ml freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice (a mixture is also possible)

  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar (or white sugar, with a drop of water to dissolve)

  • 8 fresh mint leaves (substitute: basil leaves for freshness if you don't have mint)

  • 6–8 drops of Angostura Aromatic Bitters


Preparation:

In a glass, lightly mash the mint with sugar and lime/lemon juice. Add rum, add plenty of ice (crushed is best, but regular ice will do), stir well and drizzle bitters on top. Garnish with more mint.




  1. Amora Amaro (bitter-refreshing cocktail)

This cocktail normally uses Amaro di Angostura, but since it's not something people keep in their kitchen cupboards, you can replace it with any dark herbal liqueur you have on hand (e.g. Pelinkovac, Jägermeister, even Fernet). If you don't have any of those, a combination of black tea and extra bitters can serve as an improvisation! The goal is to achieve a balance of bitterness and freshness.


Ingredients:

  • 45 ml herbal liqueur (substitute: Pelinkovac, Jägermeister, or cold-brewed black tea)

  • 20–25 ml Angostura Aromatic Bitters

  • 30 ml sugar syrup (substitute: 2 teaspoons sugar + 1 tablespoon warm water)

  • 30 ml freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice


Preparation:

Place all ingredients in a shaker or jar with a lid, add ice and shake well. Strain into a smaller glass (e.g. wine or champagne glass) and garnish with a little citrus zest if you have one. The cocktail will be elegant and intense.




  1. Lime & Bitters Highball (non-alcoholic bomb for every day)

An Australian classic that many describe as a drink that saves the day, ideal when you want something healthy, bitter, fresh and simple. You really don't need anything special here: lime or lemon, sparkling water, and of course Angostura bitters. If you have Sprite, 7Up, or even lemonade, that can also pass as a base, the result is always light and refreshing.


Ingredients:

  • 15 ml freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice

  • 4–5 drops of Angostura Aromatic Bitters

  • soda or any carbonated drink with a citrus flavor (replacement: water + lemon + a little honey, or lemonade)


Preparation:

Pour the juice into a tall glass half-filled with ice, add bitters and top up with soda. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge. It's alcohol-free, but seriously goes well with everything from breakfast to dinner.



Images: Angostura, MaltWhiskey, VictorianWeb

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